Financial booms and busts have arrived and departed many times in history. The American Dream has experienced many rolling blackouts and glorious peaks.

I tell my sons, and anyone else who will listen, that in my lifetime of 78 years, I think I have lived in the premier chapter or period of American history.

When relating stories about good times and bad, and the many varied remedies and solutions people offer, I tell the following stories to illustrate my points:

An old cowboy who had been working for $30 per month and board for most of his life was told by the new ranch owners where he worked they were raising his wages to $40 per month. All the other employees were delighted at the news, but the old cowboy was shaking his head and frowning. The new owners asked, “Why are you not happy with the raise?” He answered, “It nearly kills me now to drink up $30 worth of whiskey each month. Another $10 may put me under.”

A major political machine was conducting interviews of the American public to gain input into what was needed to jump-start the economy. Every class and economic level of the public was questioned closely and recorded in the poll.

A homeless man, pushing his heavily loaded cart along the street was asked, “Sir, what do you think needs to be done to help the economy?” In great detail and with enthusiasm he answered, “I think they need to gather up all the money in the world and distribute it equally among all the people of the world.” Noticing the wine bottle in a paper sack in the man’s coat pocket, the interviewer stated, “Sir, I’ll bet if that was done, you would be broke again by next week.” The old gentleman laughed and answered, “That’s what I mean. Do it every Friday.”

Somehow, I’ve always had a problem with someone doing the exact same job every year for years, yet expecting a raise or a bonus every year for exactly the same effort. The result of this expectation was borne out in the Texas Panhandle a few years ago affecting our little town.

A profitable company run by good people had a main office and twelve branch offices located across the Panhandle. Each branch had an office, warehouse and company pickup. Each branch also had an office manager, a secretary and a warehouse man to load products.

The company maintained the same sales each year but always paid a bonus or raised the wages of all employees each year, as that seemed to be a habit of the times and was expected.

After 20 years, the company faced bankruptcy. A competitor purchased the company for cents on the dollar and reorganized. Every manager and secretary was laid off. All company pickups, office equipment and furniture were sold at auction. The warehousemen were all schooled in operating fax machines, credit cards were encouraged and discounts offered to customers who picked up products at the warehouse docks.

The American Dream continued but for a different group of dreamers. Beware! Our chickens, so carefully guarded in the past, may be coming home to roost.

© Delbert Trew - November 2 , 2011 column
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Delbert Trew is a freelance writer and retired rancher. He can be reached at 806-779-3164, by mail at Box A, Alanreed, TX 79002, or by email at trewblue@centramedia.net. For books see delberttrew.com. His column appears weekly.

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Texas Ranching | Columns | Texas Panhandle | Texas Towns